Main Causes of Tooth Decay Leading to a Root Canal

Root canals are one of the most common dental procedures performed by both dentists and endodontists. The main reason for a root canal is tooth decay. Tooth decay is one of the most painful things you will experience, leading to something as serious as a root canal. Tooth decay is very common among teenagers and adults and requires immediate treatment before it gets any worse and becomes an uncontrollable infection. To learn more about tooth decay and what causes it so that you can prevent something like this from happening in the future, read further below.

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What Is Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is a common dental issue that causes the tooth enamel to become soft. It also damages the structure of your tooth. This happens when the plaque bacteria break down the sugars in your mouth. Tooth decay isn’t taken seriously when it happens, but failure to treat this immediately could lead to a cavity or a hole in your tooth, and over time, these holes will grow bigger, destroying the whole tooth.

This could become worse if you already have gum recessions as the plaque acid mainly attacks the dentin, causing a root cavity. This leads to a terrible feeling of pain whenever you eat or drink.  Tooth decays become evident when you feel a stinging pain in your gums, and this should lead you to visit an endodontist. One of the main causes of tooth decay is poor oral hygiene, and this is becoming more of an issue as many Americans pay less attention to their oral health.

The Main Causes of Tooth Decay

Mentioned below are the main causes that lead to tooth decay. Looking at these reasons, you can control the chances of tooth decay.

1.     Plaque Formation

Dental plaque is a sticky coat on your teeth that forms due to excessive consumption of sugars and starch. If you don’t clean them off your teeth, bacteria start feeding on them, resulting in plaque formation. The plaque can harden across your gum line, leading to tooth decay.

When these form on your teeth, it removes minerals present in your tooth’s outer enamel. This leads to erosion, causing tiny holes in the enamel, and slowly, the enamel starts deteriorating as bacteria begins to gather in the other layers of your teeth, known as dentin. The dentin is a very sensitive part of the tooth, so when it suffers from inflammation and sensitivity, it can lead to tooth decay. The tooth decay will keep building up and reach your pulp if you don’t receive immediate help.

2.     High consumption of Sugar

High consumption of sugar-based food items is where the problem of tooth decay actually begins. When you constantly consume foods such as chocolates, biscuits, hard candy, cakes, chips, soda, dry cereals, and more, the remains start gathering on your teeth if you don’t brush right after. Sometimes, even brushing doesn’t help remove the food particles off your teeth. Because these foods aren’t easy to wash off, they tend to stick and cause tooth decay. A good thing would be to avoid high consumption or constant snacking of such items as a preventive measure.

3.     Dry Mouth

When you have a lack of saliva in your mouth, it tends to become dry. A dry mouth means the food particles and plaque on your teeth don’t wash out. Due to a lack of salvia, they continue to stick. This leads to tooth decay. One of the main reasons for dry mouth is medical conditions and certain medications that reduce saliva production in your mouth.

4.     Location of Your Tooth

Another reason for tooth decay is molars and premolars. These are the back teeth where decay usually takes place. This is because the back teeth have more grooves, crannies, and multiple roots that gather all the remaining food particles in the mouth. It is also difficult to clean the back teeth effectively. Hence the particle remains in the mouth and leads towards tooth decay.

5.     Poor Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene is also one of the main causes of tooth decay. It is very important to brush your teeth regularly, especially after you eat or drink. When you brush regularly after meals, you instantly get rid of all the extra food particles that help reduce the chances of tooth decay.

Other Reasons

• Infant Feeding
• Inadequate Amount of Fluoride
• Dental Fillings
• Eating Disorders
• Heartburn
• Age
• Existing Health Issues

Tooth decay naturally calls for a root canal, which is among the leading dental treatments to provide pain relief. Endodontists specialize in performing root canals, and it is very important to get it done to prevent further complications.

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Causes of Tooth Decay & Root Canal: Takeaway

If you are experiencing tooth decay or think you could be close to it, you must visit an Endodontist and achieve professional dental advice to fix the problem in its earlier stages. For the best Endodontic services in New York, get in touch with Bryant Park Endodontics.